Drawer runner, drawer mechanism and method for mounting a self-closing mechanism

Abstract

A drawer runner (2) comprises a stationary guide rail (7) and a movable running rail (8) and optionally a centre rail (16) that extends the drawer, and a self-closing mechanism (10, 10') for retracting the running rail (8) into a closed position, wherein the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') has a housing (12, 12') with a guide track (13), along which a driver (11) pretensioned by a force accumulator (21, 21') can be moved between two end positions, which can be coupled to the guide rail (8) via an activator (18), wherein the housing (12, 12') rests with an underside on the guide rail (7) and is fixed to profiling or recesses in the guide rail (7) via a plurality of fastening points on the underside, wherein the housing (12, 12') of the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') has an upper side which comprises the same fastening points as on the underside, so that the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') can also be mounted on a guide rail (7) of a drawer runner (2) rotated by 180° about an axis parallel to the pull-out direction with the upper side facing downwards. The invention also relates to a drawer mechanism and a method for mounting a self-closing mechanism (10, 10').

Description

[0001] Drawer guide, drawer device and method for assembling a self-closing mechanism

[0002] The present invention relates to a pull-out guide with a stationary guide rail and a movable running rail and optionally a pull-out extending center rail and a self-closing mechanism for retracting the running rail into a closed position, wherein the self-closing mechanism has a housing with a guide track along which a driver pre-tensioned by an energy accumulator can be moved between two end positions, which driver can be coupled to the running rail via an activator, wherein the housing rests with an underside on the guide rail and is fixed via a plurality of fastening points on the underside to profiles or recesses in the guide rail, a pull-out device and a method for mounting a self-closing mechanism on a guide rail of a pull-out guide.

[0003] DE 10 2017 128 747 A1 discloses a movement mechanism for a guide system in which a base housing is fixed to a cabinet rail of the guide system via attachment means. The base housing comprises receptacles into which pins fixed to the guide rail are inserted. These pins protrude laterally from the guide rail into the space between the two guide systems arranged on the drawer. The assembly of the base housing and the attachment of the pins is comparatively complex, even though the base housing can be used on both right- and left-hand guide systems. In addition, the required installation space on the inner side of the guide rail is considerable, and the movement mechanism cannot be used for guide systems in which other components are arranged in a movable manner in addition to the guide rail.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pull-out guide, a pull-out device and a method by means of which a self-closing mechanism can be mounted on right and left pull-out guides and which enable effective mounting of the self-closing mechanism on the guide rail.

[0005] This object is achieved with a pull-out guide having the features of claim 1, a pull-out device having the features of claim 11 and a method having the features of claim 14. In the pull-out guide according to the invention, a self-closing mechanism with a housing is fixed to a stationary guide rail of the pull-out guide, wherein the housing rests on the guide rail with an underside and is fixed to profiles or recesses in the guide rail via a plurality of fastening points on the underside. The housing of the self-closing mechanism has an upper side which comprises the same fastening points as on the underside, so that the self-closing mechanism can also be mounted on a guide rail on a pull-out guide rotated by 180° about an axis parallel to the pull-out direction with the upper side facing downwards.This allows the self-closing mechanism housing to be used for both right- and left-hand drawer slides. The self-closing mechanism is installed in a compact design because the underside of the self-closing mechanism housing rests directly on the guide rail and is secured there. This allows for a space-saving design and, at the same time, for effective installation of the self-closing mechanism with just a few assembly steps.

[0006] Preferably, the housing is clamped to the guide rail. For such a clamping fixation, flexible fastening means, such as webs or hook-shaped sections, can be provided on the guide rail or the housing, which are connected to each other by bending.

[0007] To prevent incorrect assembly and reduce component variations, the self-closing mechanism housing can be designed to be mirror-symmetrical to a central horizontal plane relative to the installation situation. This ensures that the driver is in a predetermined position, regardless of whether the self-closing mechanism is installed on a right- or left-hand drawer slide.

[0008] The fastening points for securing the housing preferably comprise at least one web, which is overlapped by a hook formed integrally on the guide rail. This allows the housing to be effectively mounted on the drawer guide, preferably on several webs of the guide rail, which can be efficiently manufactured by punching and bending.

[0009] The driver can have a receptacle for the engagement of the activator, which is open on the side facing the guide rail, wherein the driver is rotatable about a vertical axis along a curved section of the guide track. The receptacle of the driver is preferably arranged so as to be exposed in the vertical direction from both sides of the housing for the engagement of the activator. The receptacle on the driver can be dimensioned such that the activator can be inserted into the receptacle with play in the vertical direction, so that assembly tolerances can be compensated. The driver can be guided via a first guide track on an underside of the housing and via a second guide track on an upper side of the housing, wherein the guide track is optionally formed from a slot, a web or another guide element.For an optimized guideway and a compact design, the guideway can be formed by at least one rib protruding into the interior of the housing. Preferably, a rib is formed on both the underside and the top, which are encompassed by the driver. The rib can have a straight and a curved end section, against which the driver can be placed in a parking position with the force accumulator tensioned.

[0010] The guide rail preferably comprises an integrally formed vertical leg for attachment to a side wall of a furniture body or a household appliance, a guide section on the guideway for rolling elements for moving a center rail or the running rail, and a base between the guide section and the vertical leg, on which a plurality of profiles, in particular hooks, are formed for securing the self-retracting mechanism. This allows the self-retracting mechanism to be mounted in a protected manner between the vertical leg and the guide section.

[0011] The drawer guide is preferably used as a concealed drawer guide. The drawer guide is mounted directly below the drawer base on the side of the side frame facing away from the furniture body, and the drawer base rests on the runner. This ensures that at least one lower end section of the side frame, preferably a double-walled side frame, also extends into the installation space between the vertical leg of the guide rail, which serves to secure it to a side wall of a furniture body or household appliance, and the guide section of the guide rail. Thus, the (double-walled) side frame runs above the self-closing mechanism during an extension or closing movement, resulting in further advantageous use of the installation space and protecting the self-closing mechanism in the closed position. The housing of the self-closing mechanism preferably comprises at least one through-hole as fastening points, into which a hook of the guide rail protrudes.Preferably, the through-opening for the hook is located on an underside of the housing and there is another through-opening, preferably congruent, on an upper side of the housing, such that a free space extends from the bottom to the top in the housing. The free space is the open area of ​​the through-hole, which is formed by the edge of the top and / or underside of the housing. Adjacent to the through-opening there is a web which, in an installed position, is engaged over by a hook. At least part of the hook protrudes from the free space into the housing of the self-closing device. In this installed position, at least part of the hook is covered by the opposite web of the through-opening on the upper side of the housing.

[0012] In the method according to the invention for mounting a self-closing mechanism on a stationary guide rail of a pull-out guide, in which the self-closing mechanism has a housing with at least one through-opening that extends from a top side to the bottom side of the housing, the housing of the self-closing mechanism is first positioned on the guide rail, wherein a hook protruding from the guide rail engages in the through-opening on the bottom side of the housing. The housing is then moved relative to the guide rail, preferably in or against the pull-out direction, such that the hook engages over a web of the housing adjacent to the through-opening. In a further step, a tool is then inserted into the through-opening from above in order to bend the hook onto the web on the housing.This allows the housing to be effectively secured to the guide rail despite limited space by bending at least one hook onto the web of the housing.

[0013] Preferably, a plurality of through-openings can be provided on the housing, each of which is engaged by at least one hook, which is simultaneously bent onto a web of the housing. In addition, at least one hook can be encompassed laterally by webs of the housing, so that a fixation perpendicular to the feed direction is also provided. The bending of the hooks can be carried out particularly effectively by a machine in which one or more punches are provided, each punch engaging in the through-opening to bend a hook. Further advantageously, an embossing is formed on the guide rail, and the housing of the self-feeder is aligned on the guide rail via this embossing during positioning. The embossing can engage in a receptacle or through-opening.This embossing serves to pre-position the self-closing housing in its final mounting position and prevents movement against the mounting direction of the housing on the guide rail hooks. Other positioning or fastening devices, such as mushroom head and keyhole connections, may also be provided.

[0014] The invention will be explained in more detail below using several exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture with a pull-out device;

[0016] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an inventive

[0017] drawer guide;

[0018] Figures 3A and 3B show two views of the pull-out guide of Figure 2 during assembly of the drawer element;

[0019] Figures 4A to 4C show several views of the self-closing mechanism for the drawer guide of Figure 2;

[0020] Figures 5A to 5C show several views of a modified self-retractor;

[0021] Figures 6A and 6B show two views of the self-retractor in an intermediate position on the guide rail during assembly, and

[0022] Figures 7A and 7B show two views of the self-retractor of Figure 6 in the assembled position.

[0023] A piece of furniture 1 comprises a furniture body 50, in which one or more pull-out guides 2 are fixed to opposite side walls. A drawer element 3, preferably a drawer with a front panel 4, a rear wall 6, and two side frames 5 connecting the front panel 4 and the rear wall 6, is provided on each of two opposite pull-out guides 2, which surround a base 14. Instead of being used in a piece of furniture 1, a pull-out device can also be used in a household appliance.

[0024] Figure 2 shows a detail of one of the pull-out guides 2, which is fixed to the left side of the body 50. The pull-out guide 2 on the right side is designed to be essentially mirror-symmetrical to a central vertical plane. The pull-out guide 2 comprises a stationary guide rail 7, which is fixed to the side wall of the body 50 by a vertical leg. On a guide section of the guide rail 7, on which raceways for rolling elements are formed, a central rail 16 or a movable guide rail 8 is provided, on which the sliding element 3 is supported. A hook element 9 is arranged in the rear area of ​​the sliding rail 8, which engages in a receptacle provided for this purpose on the sliding element; other fastening means for fastening the sliding element 3 can also be provided optionally.Between the guide rail 8 and the vertical leg of the guide rail 7, a self-retractor 10 is provided, which is fixed to the guide rail 7 by a housing 12.

[0025] Figures 3A and 3B show the pull-out guide 2 during assembly of the self-closing mechanism 10 and the sliding element 3. The guide rail 7 of the pull-out guide 2 comprises, on a base 17 extending horizontally between the vertical leg and the guide section with the rolling elements, a plurality of upwardly projecting hooks 15, which are preferably formed by punching and bending from the guide rail 7 made of sheet metal. A web-shaped activator 18 is fixed or integrally formed on the guide rail 8 and can be coupled to a driver 11 of the self-closing mechanism. The driver 11 can be moved along a guide track 13 on the housing 12 of the self-closing mechanism 10. A central rail 16 extending the drawer is provided within the guide rail 8; this central rail can optionally also be omitted. Particularly in Fig.3B clearly shows that the side frame 5, after assembly, is located in the closed state above the self-closing mechanism 10 and a lower region of the side frame 5 extends into the space between the vertical leg and the guide section with the rolling elements.

[0026] Figures 4A to 4C show the self-closing mechanism 10 in detail. The self-closing mechanism 10 comprises an elongated housing 12, in particular made of plastic, on which the driver 11 can be moved along the guide track 13. The driver 11 comprises a U-shaped receptacle 22 into which the web-shaped activator 18 can be inserted over part of the travel of the guide rail 8. At an angled end section of the guide track 13, the activator 18 can be released from the driver 11.

[0027] Figure 4B shows that the receptacle 22 of the driver 11 is exposed in the vertical direction from both sides of the housing 12. This ensures that the activator 18 can engage into the receptacle 22 of the driver 11 from both sides, depending on the installation position of the self-closing mechanism 10. The receptacle 22 of the driver 11 is formed by two stop surfaces 111 and 112, with a free space between the stop surface 112 and the main body of the driver 11, which allows the stop surface 112 to deflect. This free space can correct any misalignment of the driver 11. Such a misalignment can occur, for example, during assembly when the driver 11 is retracted and the activator 18 is not engaged with the driver 11.

[0028] The driver 11 is preloaded into a retracted position by an energy accumulator 21, in particular a spring. Furthermore, a damper 19 is mounted in a receptacle on the housing 12 of the self-retracting mechanism 10. This damper is designed as a linear damper and comprises a movable piston rod 20 connected to the driver 11. The driver 11 comprises guide elements 27 that engage around the guide track 13.

[0029] Furthermore, through-openings 23 are formed on the housing 12 of the self-retracting mechanism 10, which are vertically aligned in the mounted position. Two retaining webs 24 are formed on one end of the housing 12, which surround a half-open through-opening.

[0030] Figures 5A to 5C show a modified self-closing mechanism 10' which is shorter than the self-closing mechanism 10, for example because the self-closing mechanism 10' is designed for lower weight loads of the thrust element 3. The self-closing mechanism 10' comprises a housing 12' which, as in the previous exemplary embodiment, has a force accumulator 2T for pretensioning the driver 11 into an end position. Furthermore, a damper 19 is arranged in a receptacle of the housing 12'. As can be seen in Figure 5C, inwardly projecting ribs are formed on opposite walls of the housing 12' as guide tracks 13, which protrude into an interior of the housing 12' and are encompassed by the driver 11, so that the driver can be moved along the guide track 13. Otherwise, the housing 12' is designed as in the previous embodiment and comprises at least one through-opening 23 and two retaining webs 24 at one front end.

[0031] The assembly of the self-closing mechanism 10 or 10' on the stationary guide rail 7 of the pull-out guide 2 is explained in more detail with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

[0032] Figures 6A and 6B show the position of the self-closing mechanism 10', which is positioned on the stationary guide rail 7 at the base 17, wherein the housing 12' is positioned such that the driver 11 is movable horizontally along the guide track 13 and is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis at the angled end section of the guide track 13. The receptacle 22 of the driver 11 faces the guide rail 8 (not shown here). As shown in Figure 6B, the housing 12' of the self-closing mechanism has been placed on the base 17 of the guide rail 7 and displaced relative to the base 17 so that a hook 15 is arranged above a web 25 arranged adjacent to the through opening 23. A hook 15 is also formed on the front through-opening between the holding webs 24, which hooks over a web 25 of the housing 12'.A further through-opening 23 is filled by an embossing 26 on the side facing the base 17.

[0033] The embossing 26 serves for pre-positioning in the final assembly position and as a displacement lock for the self-retracting mechanism 10 in the direction of the opening of the hooks 15.

[0034] To fix the self-retracting mechanism 10 to the guide rail 7, a tool now engages from above into the through-holes 23 of the housing 12' and bends the hooks 15 so that they are pressed onto the webs 25 of the housing 12'. This bending process can optionally be automated by inserting a punch into the through-hole 23 from above. This assembly step results in the situation shown in Figures 7A and 7B.

[0035] The housing 12' is secured laterally perpendicular to the feed direction by means of the retaining webs 24 on the front side of the housing 12', which are arranged around the web 25. Thus, the housing 12' of the self-feeder 10 is secured against lifting from the guide rail 7 and is also immobile in all other directions. The number of through-openings 23 and the hooks 15 on the guide rail 7 can be flexibly selected. Instead of the two hooks 15 shown, only one hook 15 or more than two hooks 15 can be formed on the guide rail 7. Furthermore, other embossings 26 can also be provided, which are mounted in through-openings 23. These “attachment points” are identically designed on a top and a bottom of the housing 12 or 12' of the self-closing mechanism 10 or 10', so that each housing 12 and 12' can be mounted on both a right-hand pull-out guide and a left-hand pull-out guide 2.

[0036] List of reference symbols

[0037] 1 furniture

[0038] 2 drawer guides

[0039] 3 thrust element

[0040] 4 Front panel

[0041] 5 side frame

[0042] 6 Rear wall

[0043] 7 Guide rail

[0044] 8 guide rail

[0045] 9 Hook element

[0046] 10, 10' self-closing

[0047] 11 carriers

[0048] 111 Stop surface

[0049] 112 Stop surface

[0050] 12, 12' housing

[0051] 13 Guideway

[0052] 14 Floor

[0053] 15 hooks

[0054] 16 center rail

[0055] 17 Floor

[0056] 18 Activator

[0057] 19 dampers

[0058] 20 piston rod

[0059] 21 , 21' energy storage

[0060] 22 recording

[0061] 23 Passage opening

[0062] 24 Stop bridge

[0063] 25 bridge

[0064] 26 Embossing

[0065] 27 Guide element

[0066] 50 furniture carcass

Claims

Claims 1 . A pull-out guide (2) with a stationary guide rail (7) and a movable running rail (8) and optionally with a pull-out extending central rail (16) and a self-closing mechanism (10, 10') for retracting the running rail (8) into a closed position, wherein the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') has a housing (12, 12') with a guide track (13) along which a driver (11) pre-tensioned by a force accumulator (21, 21') can be moved between two end positions, which driver can be coupled to the running rail (8) via an activator (18), wherein the housing (12, 12') rests with an underside on the guide rail (7) and is fixed via a plurality of fastening points on the underside to profiles or recesses of the guide rail (7), characterized in that the housing (12, 12') of the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') has a top side, which includes the same fastening points as on the bottom, so that the self-closing mechanism (10,10') can also be mounted on a guide rail (7) of a pull-out guide (2) rotated by 180° around an axis parallel to the pull-out direction with the top side facing downwards.

2. Pull-out guide according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (12, 12') is clamped to the guide rail (7).

3. Pull-out guide according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (12, 12') of the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') is mirror-symmetrical to a central horizontal plane.

4. Pull-out guide according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening points comprise at least one web (25) on the housing (12, 12'), which is overlapped by a hook (15) formed integrally with the guide rail.

5. Pull-out guide according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening points comprise at least two opposite webs (25) on the housing (12, 12'), wherein the hook (15) which engages over the one web (25) is at least partially covered by the opposite second web (25) in the assembly position.

6. Pull-out guide according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driver (11) has a receptacle (22) for the engagement of the activator (18), which is open on the side facing the guide rail (8), and the driver is pivotable about a vertical axis on a curved section of the guide track.

7. Pull-out guide according to claim 6, characterized in that the receptacle (22) of the driver (11) is exposed in the vertical direction from both sides of the housing (12) for the engagement of the activator (18).

8. Pull-out guide according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driver (11) is guided via a first guide track (13) on an underside of the housing (12) and a second guide track (13) on an upper side of the housing (12, 12').

9. Pull-out guide according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide track (13) is formed by at least one rib projecting into an interior of the housing (12), along which the driver (11) can be moved.

10. Pull-out guide according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rail (7) has a vertical leg for fixing to a side wall, a guide section with guide tracks for rolling elements and a base (17) between the guide section and the vertical leg, on which a plurality of profiles (15) for fixing the self-closing mechanism (10) are formed.

11. Pull-out guide according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12, 12') has at least one through-opening (23) as a fastening point, into which a hook (15) on the guide rail (7) protrudes.

12. Pull-out device with a right and a left pull-out guide (2), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, on which a sliding element (3) is held movable, which is fixed on opposite sides to a movable guide rail (8) of one of the two pull-out guides (2), wherein each pull-out guide (2) comprises a stationary guide rail (7) on which a self-retracting mechanism (10, 10') is provided for retracting the sliding element (3) into a retracted position with a driver (11) movable along a guide track (13) and pretensioned in a retraction direction via a force accumulator (21, 21'), characterized in that the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') on the right-hand pull-out guide (2) rests on a base (17) of the guide rail (7) and is constructed identically to the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') on the left-hand pull-out guide (2), and the housing (12, 12') of the respective self-closing mechanism (10, 10') has an upper side on the side which comprises the same fastening points as on the underside, so that the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') can also be mounted on a guide rail (7) of a pull-out guide (2) rotated by 180° about an axis parallel to the pull-out direction with the upper side facing downwards.

13. Pull-out device according to claim 12, characterized in that each self-closing mechanism (10, 10') has a housing (12, 12') on which the guide track (13) for the driver (11) is formed and the housing (12, 12') of the right-hand pull-out guide (2) is identical in construction and is fixed to the left-hand pull-out guide (2) rotated by 180° about an axis parallel to the pull-out direction.

14. Pull-out device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the pull-out guide (2) and the self-closing mechanisms (10, 10') are designed to be substantially mirror-symmetrical to a central vertical plane.

15. Pull-out device according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the pull-out guides (2) are each designed as underfloor pull-outs and each pull-out guide (2) is mounted below a base (14) of a drawer on an inner side of a side frame (5).

16. Method for mounting a self-closing mechanism (10, 10') on a stationary guide rail (7) of a pull-out guide (2), wherein the self-closing mechanism (10, 10') has a housing (12, 12') with at least one through-opening (23) extending from a top side to a bottom side of the housing (12, 12'), comprising the following steps: - positioning a housing (12, 12') of a self-closing mechanism (10, 10') on a guide rail (7), wherein a hook (15) projecting from the guide rail (7) engages in the at least one through-opening (23) on the underside of the housing (12, 12'); - moving the housing (12, 12') relative to the guide rail (7) so that the hook (15) engages over a web (25) of the housing (12, 12') adjacent to the through opening (23), and - Reaching into the through-hole (23) from above with a tool and bending the hook (15) onto the web (25) on the housing (12, 12').

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that an embossing (26) is formed on the guide rail (7) and the housing (12, 12') of the self-feeder (10, 10') is aligned on a guide rail (7) via this embossing (26) during positioning.

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